We all know the treasured story; of Jesus erasing the boundaries of gender, religion, and ethnicity as his life intersects with that of a Samaritan woman. Over the years the story has become increasingly nuanced. In truth, the Gospel of John offers few descriptors of the woman, who remains nameless. She is simply an anonymous person whose encounter with Jesus reveals God’s grace. Lent is an appropriate time for all believers to revisit that well in Samaria. As we search for the living water in our life we will no doubt visit many different wells. During Lent, we are called to the one well that is life-giving. We are called to encounter Jesus in a much deeper, and much more transformative way than we have ever had before. That is the essence of salvation: being freed from our past, being reconciled to God in the present, and being called to an eternal, grace-inspired fellowship with God. Now, that is genuinely Good News. Blessings, Pastor Tom John 4:4-15 He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water. Comments are closed.
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October 2022
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